Folding ironing board



2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov. 24, 1954 R 1.2.. m. 2 51 .1 6 2% a .J m J inn n 35 M 6y 2. s 7 5 17% a z w 5 J ATTD RN EYS Nov. 20, 1956 A. J.OLSHEFSKI 2,770,397

- Fowmc mourns BOARD Filed Nov. 24, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR.

- 28 5' ATTORNEYS Unite States Patent FOLDING IRONlNG BOARD Anthony J.Olshefslti, Kulpmont, Pa. Application November 24, 1954, Serial No.470,849

3 Claims. (Cl. 38-124) This invention relates to a folding iron board,and more particularly to a latch for the legs of a folding iron board.

This invention is an improvement over the Folding Iron Board, shown anddescribed in my Patent No. 2,647,333.

The object of the invention is to provide a folding iron board whichincludes a leg structure that has a latch mechanism for preventingaccidental folding or collapsing of the legs and table when the table isbeing used, and wherein the entire unit can be readily folded to occupya small compact space when it is being carried or stored.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible legstructure which can be used for supporting various articles such as ironboards, and wherein there is provided a plurality of hingedly orpivotally mounted legs which are adapted to be locked in their open orsupporting position, and wherein the locking mechanism can be readilyreleased by pressure of the hand on a chain or cable so that the legscan be pivoted to permit the entire device to be folded into a compactunit.

A further object of the invention is to provide a folding iron boardwhich is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of thefollowing description.

In the accompanying drawings, [forming a part of this application, andin which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout thesame:

\Figure -1 is a side elevational view of the folding iron board of thepresent invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view showing the iron board open and withthe legs engaging a floor or other surface.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the position of theparts when the legs are moving down as when the legs will engage a flooror the like.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6, but showing the position of theparts as the legs are moved down still further so that the latch ismoved upwardly by the keepers.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figures 6 and 7, but showing the legs allthe way down and beginning to be locked.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8, but showing the legs all the waydown and locked in their down position.

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 9, but showing the latch beingraised by the chain and the legs released.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates asubstantially U-shaped support member which can be made of any suitablematerial, and the support member 10 includes a horizontally disposedbase 11 and a pair of spaced parallel side walls 12. Each of the2,770,897 Patented Nov. 20, 1956 side walls 12 is provided with anopposed cutout or opening 14 for a purpose to be later described.

Plus or bolt and nut assemblies 16 serve to pivotally or hingedlyconnect to the side walls 12 a plurality of legs 15. The legs 15 arearranged in pairs and the legs of each pair are interconnected togetherby means of a brace or 'crosspiece 17.

The folding iron board of the present invention further includes alocking mechanism for maintaining the legs 15 in their operative orsupporting position, and this locking means comprises a pair of brackets18. Each of the brackets 18 are secured to the outer surface of the sidewalls 12 in any suitable manner, as for example by means of screws orother securing elements 24. Each of the brackets 18 has the sameconstruction and each includes an intermediate olfset portion 19 whichdefines a channel for slidably receiving therein a shank 20. Secured tothe lower end of the shank 20 or formed integral therewith is a latch21. The latch 21 is provided with a pair of spaced apart recesses orcutouts 22 which have a lug 23 arranged therebetween, Figure 9.

Secured to each of the legs 15 is a keeper 25, and the keeper 25includes a first portion 26 which may be secured to a leg by suitablesecuring elements 27. Arranged angularly with respect to the firstportion 26 is a second portion 28 which can be made of spring metal, andprojecting at right angles from each of the portions 28 is a finger '29which is adapted to engage the recess 22.

Extending inwardly from the upper end of each of the shanks 20 is an ear30 which is provided with an opening 31 on its inner end, Figure 4. Aneyebolt 32 has its stem 33 extending through the aperture 31, and a nut34 is arranged in engagement with the stem 33. A chain 35v has its endsconnected to the pair of eyebolts 32, and the chain 35 extends througheye members 36 which are secured to the inner surface of the ide walls12, and the chain 35 is guided by the eye members 36.

The legs 15 may be pivotally connected to the side walls 12 aspreviously described, and interconnecting the pair of side walls 12together are crosspieces 38 which each have a bushing or handle 37thereon. Braces 39 and '40, Figures 1 and 2, may be pivotally connectedto the side walls 12 of the support member 10, and these braces can beconnected in any suitable manner to a structure being supported such asthe ironing board sections 13 and '14 shown in my prior Patent2,647,333. However, it is to be understood that the collapsiblesupporting structure of the present invention can be used for supportingother devices besides iron boards.

From the foregoing it is apparent that there has been provided a[folding leg and latch structure for supporting various articles such asironing boards. In Figure 3 the legs and latch mechanism are shown inthe position they occupy when an ironing board is being used orsupported so that the plurality of legs 15 are separated and held intheir spaced apart relation by means of the fingers 29 which projectinto the recesses 22 of the latch 21. This construction prevents thelegs 15 from spreading further apart so that the ironing board will beheld stationary or immobile in its adjusted positions. When the ironingboard supporting structure is to be collapsed as when it is to be movedor carried from place to place, it is only necessary to pull on thechain 35 and this will raise the shank 20 which in turn will lift thelatch 21 whereby the fingers 29 of the keepers 25 will be free to clearthe recesses 22 so that the legs 15 will be free to pivot about the pins16 to a position contiguous to the side wall 12 of the support member10. The crosspieces 17 can be used as handle members when the legs 15are in their folded position. To move the legs 15 from their folded orcollapsed position back to the position shown in Figure 3, the reverseprocedure is followed and.

.9 it is only necessary to release the legs so that they first move tothe position shown in Figure 6 and then the parts move to the positionshown in Figure 7, then to the position shown in Figure 8 and finally tothe position shown in Figure 9 which shows the legs locked down by meansof the latch 21. Figure 10 is an enlarged View illustrating the fingers29 being released as when the chain 35 is manually raised.

With the present invention the pair of latches on each of the walls willboth be released simultaneously since the shank of each of the pair oflatches is connected to the same chain 35. The recesses 22 areconstructed so that when the fingers 29 are therein, there will be noaccidental releasing of the parts. The channel 19 in the bracket 18prevents the latch from swaying from side to side and the chain 35 isnormally out of view so that the attractiveness of the device i notimpaired. The openings 14 are of such a size as to limit up and downmovement of the cars 30 and shanks 20. The ironing board can be quicklyopened by letting the legs 15 fall down on the floor and then grippingthe handle and :lifting the board up to the positionshown in Figures 1and 2 and as the board is lifted up the weight of the legs with thefingers 29 will move as shown in the drawings so that the fingers 29will move into the openings 22 and then the latch 21 will move to theposition shown in Figure 9 so that the legs will be locked in their openor supporting position. To release the latch for closing the legs, it isonly necessary to lift up on the chain 35 and this will release thelatch so that the legs can be swung to their closed position. Thus itwill be seen that the legs open automatically when the board is liftedup, and then to release the legs as when they are to be closed, it isonly necessary to again raise the entire ironing board and then lift thechain so that the legs can be pivoted. The legs fold over the top of theboard as shown in Figure 1 and the structure of the present inventioncan be used for supporting other devices besides ironing boards such astables. The bolts 38 and members 37 serve as braces for holding thesides together. The members 37 are also used as handles when the legsare down to lift the board up to an open position, or rather a standingposition. The cross pieces 17 are used for carrying the board whenclosed.

I claim:

1. In combination, a U-shaped support member including a horizontallydisposed base and a pair of spaced parallel side walls extendingupwardly from said base, said base extending between the lower ends ofsaid side walls and serving as a brace member there being registeringcutouts in said side walls, a pair of legs pivotally connected to thelower portions of each of said side walls, said legs being arrangedcontiguous to the outer surface of said side walls, cross piecesinterconnecting opposed legs together, a latch mechanism for each pairof legs comprising a bracket secured to the outer surface of each ofsaid walls and including an intermediate offset port-ion defining achannel, a shank slidably mounted in said channel, a latch secured tothe lower end of said shank and provided with a pair of recessesdefining a lug therebetween, a keeper secured to each of said legs andincluding an offset section terminating in an angularly arranged fingerfor engagement with the recesses in said latch, an apertured earextending inwardly from said shank through the cutout in each of saidside walls, and a chain connected to the pair of ears.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1, and further including eyeboltssecured to the inner surface of each of said side walls for theprojection therethrough of said chain.

3. In a collapsible supporting structure for an ironing board, aU-shaped support member including a base and a pair of spaced parallelside walls, a pair of diverging legs pivotally connected to the lowerends of each of said side walls, said legs being arranged contiguous tothe outer surface of said side walls, said base extending bet-ween thelower ends of said side walls and serving as a brace member, a latchmechanism connected to each of said side walls for maintaining said legsopen, a manually operable means for simultaneously releasing said pairof latch mechanisms, said latch mechanisms each embodying a bracketsecured to each of said side walls, a shank slidably mounted in saidbracket, a latch on the lower end of said shank, and a keeper secured toeach of said legs for engagement with said latch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS AmberOct. 26, 1954

